Motion picture camera and cassette system

Abstract

A motion picture camera and cassette system is provided having at least one motion picture camera and several film cassettes containing an exposed and/or unexposed motion picture film. The film cassettes contain a storage device which stores at least the length of the exposed and/or unexposed motion picture film. The motion picture cameras have a device for exchanging data with the storage device of the film cassettes and sensing the exposed length of motion picture film. Changes in the exposed film length are transmitted by the data exchange device of the film camera to the storage device of the film cassettes.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A motion picture camera cassette system comprising a motion picture camera, a film cassette containing at least one of an exposed and unexposed motion picture film, and an electronic data-processing device, wherein the electronic data-processing device is selectively connectable to at least one of said motion picture camera and film cassette, wherein the film cassette contains a storage device which stores an initial value representing a length of the at least one of exposed and unexposed motion picture film in the film cassette; the motion picture camera has an exchange device which exchanges data with the storage device of the film cassette; the motion picture camera has a detecting device which detects a length of motion picture film exposed by the camera; the camera has a microprocessor which based upon the initial value of the at least one of exposed and unexposed motion picture film in the film cassette and the amount of exposed film detected by the detector calculates a new value representing the length of the at least one of exposed and unexposed motion picture film in the film cassette; and wherein the data-exchange device of the motion-picture camera transmits the new value representing the length of the at least one of exposed and unexposed film in the film cassette into the storage device of the film cassette. 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display device in the motion picture camera; and wherein a value representing the length of at least one of the exposed and unexposed motion picture film of a film cassette is displayable on the display device of the motion picture camera. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising a display device in the film cassette; wherein the value representing the length of at least one of the exposed and unexposed motion picture film of the film cassette is displayable on the display device of the film cassette. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the storage device of the film cassette is loadable with a value corresponding to the inserted film length. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the storage device of the film cassette is also loadable with data in addition to the value representing the length of at least one of the exposed and unexposed motion picture film. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5  wherein the additional data comprises at least one of the group consisting of: a film type, a production number, and a cassette identification mark. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the value representing at least one of the exposed and unexposed motion picture film length is input using at least one of an input device of the motion picture camera, an input device of the film cassette and an input device of the electronic data-processing device. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the data is exchanged between the motion picture camera and the film cassette via at least one of the group consisting of an electrooptical transmitting device, a magnetic transmitting device, and an electric line connection. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the data is exchanged between the motion picture camera and at least one of the film cassette and the electronic data-processing device via an interface present at the motion picture camera. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 9  wherein the interface present at the motion picture camera is a time code interface. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 9  wherein the interface present at the motion picture camera is a video interface. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one of the motion picture camera and the film cassette are connectable to the electronic data processing device via a serial interface. 
     
     
       13. A motion picture camera cassette system comprising: 
       a film cassette containing at least one of an exposed and unexposed motion picture film and a comprising a storage device;  
       a motion picture camera comprising,  
       a detecting device which detects a length of the motion picture film exposed by the camera,  
       a microprocessor which based upon the initial value of the at least one of exposed and unexposed motion picture film in the film cassette and the amount of exposed film detected by the detector calculates a new value representing the length of the at least one of exposed and unexposed motion picture film in the film cassette, and  
       an exchange device which exchanges data with the storage device of the film cassette; and  
       an electronic data-processing device, wherein the electronic data-processing device is connectable to the motion picture camera, wherein the electronic data-processing device processes data output by the motion picture camera and outputs data to the motion picture camera, wherein the film cassette storage device stores an initial value representing a length of the at least one of exposed and unexposed motion picture film in the film cassette, and wherein the exchange device of the motion-picture camera transmits the new value representing the length of the at least one of exposed and unexposed film in the film cassette into the storage device of the film cassette.  
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 13  wherein the electronic data-processing device is further connectable to the film cassette and wherein the electronic data-processing device processes and displays data output by the motion picture camera and by the film cassette and outputs data to the motion picture camera and to the film cassette.